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Wednesday, 8 October 2014

Memory cafe serves up array of dementia advice

Corbridge: Memory cafe serves up array of dementia advice

CORBRIDGE is set to host a memory cafe as part of a community effort to become a designated dementia-friendly village.

The first free drop-in cafe, aimed at providing a social setting for people with memory problems and dementia to meet and spend time tog
ether, will take place in the parish hall on St Helen’s Street on Thursday, October 16.
“There is no need to book, the idea is for people and their families to just turn up and meet those in a similar position, while getting advice on things like carers and financial matters,” explained Corbridge parish councillor, Coun. Melvyn Stone, who is spearheading the campaign.

“Volunteers from the Alzheimer’s Society will be there and people from Chrysalis, the dementia service at the Torch Centre in Hexham will be there.

“We have also got Diagonal Alternatives, a service for people and families with memory loss, coming along.”

The use of the room, between 10.30am and 12.30pm on the third Thursday of every month, is being donated by Corbridge Parish Council while the Alzheimer’s Society has provided initial funding for the refreshments.

“This is the latest step in Corbridge becoming a dementia-friendly community under the Alzheimer’s Society initiative,” said Coun. Stone. “We are eight months through the process and hopefully next year we will be among the first villages in the country to gain a dementia-friendly title.”

Focusing on improving the inclusion and quality of life of people with dementia, the initiative has been backed by Hexham MP Guy Opperman.